Dean Smith refuses to blame Walsall FC strikers

Boss Dean Smith today refused to blame his shot-shy strikers for Walsall's goal woes and insisted the team must carry the can.

The Saddlers have scored just 19 goals in 20 League One games this season – the worst in the division – and failed to score against the Football League's bottom club Dagenham on Tuesday.

A 3-2 FA Cup shoot-out defeat followed a dire 0-0 draw and Walsall now go to Chesterfield on Saturday – who have the worst defence in the league, having conceded 40 goals.

And Smith insisted the whole squad need to shoulder the goalscoring burden.

"They all need to start chipping in more regularly because it takes a lot of pressure off the defenders as well," said Smith, with veteran striker Jon Macken his five-goal top scorer.

"Scoring goals is the hardest thing to do, as everyone knows, and that's why forwards get paid the most money.

"We work really hard on set-pieces and we have got better. The movement has been really good and we've scored a few from free-kicks and corners this season.

"But we must improve from open play as well. We work on the anticipation of where the ball might land and mainly hitting the target. When they get into those areas we don't want them to be flustered, we want them to hit the target and make the keeper work. I'm sure we'll start getting there and the goals will start flowing."

Meanwhile, Chesterfield have given manager John Sheridan a vote of confidence after 13 defeats from 20 League One games left them five points adrift of 20th placed Scunthorpe after four behind the Saddlers.

A statement said: "After last season's outstanding success the club takes the view that manager John Sheridan doesn't suddenly become a bad manager overnight. John, and his management team, will be supported in their endeavours with changes both on and off the pitch.

"The majority shareholder Dave Allen has confirmed funds are being made available."